Philbrook, Bertha Mae, 87, of Woodland, on September 25, 2012. Arrangements are in the care of the Mockler Funeral Home, Caribou.
Woodland — Bertha Mae Philbrook, 87, died September 25, 2012, at Caribou. She was born in Washburn, July 27, 1925, the daughter of the late Glen and Lillian (Roberts) Haines. Bertha was a graduate of Washburn High School and received her secretarial certificate from Husson College. She worked in an insurance office in Presque Isle prior to her marriage to Leslie Philbrook in 1948 and they started their family. They had a son, Lester and a daughter, Arline and then twins Marvin and Mavis. Bertha would always say that she stopped having children because they started coming two at a time. She raised her children, while at the same time caring for Leslie and his declining health from injuries he had received as a prisoner of war in Germany during WWII. After their children were grown, she was employed at Potato Service, Simplot and then retired from McCain Foods in 1994. Bertha enjoyed tracing her family genealogy and tried to acquire as much information as possible on the family and its descendants. Her collection of articles and genealogical items was donated to the Aroostook Genealogical Society which is arranging and creating books for genealogical research.
She is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Marvin Philbrook of Washburn and Lester and Mary Philbrook of Manchester, PA; two daughters and a son-in-law- Mavis and Gary Page of Ware, MA and Arline Belanger of Caribou; her grandchildren, Dana Glen Farley, Peggy Carney, Sandra Tower and Lester Glen Philbrook; her great-grandchildren, Dustin and Trevor Carney and John and Jennifer Tower; a former daughter-in-law, Sheila Archer of Caribou. Mrs. Philbrook was predeceased by her husband, Leslie in 1986; a sister, Beatrice Griffeth; two grandchildren, Tracy Farley and Christopher Page; and two sons-in-law, Dana Farley and Adrien Belanger. Bertha left a large footprint in the hearts of those who knew her and she will be greatly missed.
Friends called at the Mockler Funeral Home, 24 Reservoir Street, Caribou Sunday, September 30, 2012, 12 noon until time of funeral services which were held at 2 p.m. with Pastors Brenda and Carroll Farley, officiating. Following the service all were invited to the Caribou Inn and Convention Center for a time of continued fellowship and refreshments. Interment was in the Riverside Extension Cemetery, Washburn. Friends who wish to contribute in memory of Mrs. Philbrook, may do so through the library of your choice. The family also extends a special thanks to the staff at Caribou Rehab and Nursing for the fine care that their mother received there. www.mocklerfuneralhome.com
